Surface low pressure tracked from southern Alberta, to western North Dakota, into northeast South Dakota, and then into southern Minnesota.  A little freezing rain fell south of a Valley City (ND) to Elbow Lake (MN) line.  Meanwhile, 4 to 6 inches of snow fell along the Devils Lake (ND) to Fargo (ND) to Wadena (MN) corridor.  After the surface low passed through, wind speeds rapidly increased (gusting up to 50 mph).  Whiteout conditions developed friday afternoon (the 21st) and continued into early saturday.  Initially a winter storm warning was issued for this event, but as it became clear that whiteout conditions would develop, it was upgraded to a blizzard warning.  Roseau, Eastern Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake, and Eastern Polk counties were not part of the initial winter storm warning (which was issued at 420 am CST), but were added when the blizzard warning was issued at 256 pm CST.  Many schools cancelled early on friday afternoon, and many evening events were also rescheduled.  Hundreds of vehicles were reported in the ditch.  Several flights into Hector International Airport (in Fargo, ND) were cancelled.  Numerous roads were closed.  Interstate 29 was closed its entire length in eastern North Dakota.  Interstate 94 was closed between Moorhead and Alexandria (MN).  U.S. Highway 10 was closed between Moorhead and Detroit Lakes (MN) and U.S. Highway 2 was closed between East Grand Forks and Crookston (MN).  The saturday mail delivery was delayed or cancelled in some areas due to poor road conditions.  Manitoba Highway 75 was also closed from the Canadian border to Winnipeg.  This forced some people into Pembina (ND) to look for a place to stay.  Local motels quickly filled up, forcing officials to house 30 people in the Pembina school.

Blizzard in WEST MARSHALL, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in GRANT, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in CLAY, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in NORMAN, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in ROSEAU, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 14:56:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in EAST MARSHALL, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 14:56:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in EAST OTTER TAIL, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in EAST POLK, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 14:56:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in MAHNOMEN, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in WEST POLK, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in RED LAKE, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 14:56:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in PENNINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 14:56:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in WEST BECKER, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in KITTSON, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in WEST OTTER TAIL, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Blizzard in WILKIN, MINNESOTA
From 21-JAN-05 04:20:00 to 22-JAN-05 06:53:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC